Catalyst
The Catalyst Coaching Program is a cohort-based coaching program that equips early to mid-career researchers with the communication skills, strategic awareness, and industry-ready presence to confidently engage stakeholders and move their work from the lab to real-world impact.
Begun in 2023, Catalyst provides one-on-one coaching support to early and mid-career researchers interested in commercializing lab-developed, cutting-edge technology. The award-winning program has been recognized by the Federal Laboratory Consortium and the Department of Energy Technology Transfer Working Group for Innovation and Impact.
Catalyst grew from the Safari program, which was supported by the Department of Energy Office of Technology Commercialization Practices to Accelerate the Commercialization of Technologies (PACT) program and designed to promote the transition of research developed at DOE national laboratories toward the marketplace to promote US competitiveness and national security. Catalyst is supported by internal investment from ORNL.
Credit: U.S. Dept. of Energy
From innovation to industry: Researchers complete Energy I-Corps program
Nicholas Gregorich, left, and Syed Islam took part in the first cohort of Catalyst. They further refined their communications toolkit and learned to market their novel technology Green Capture, an affordable membrane technology that can absorb carbon dioxide from industrial emissions through participation in the Energy I-Corp program.
Taking cutting-edge technology to market requires addressing both technical and commercial challenges. Through Catalyst, researchers develop the skill set to connect with external investors to commercialize early-stage technologies. With the assistance of ORNL commercialization experts and through the Catalyst program, researchers identify, evaluate and develop a commercialization plan that considers product, market, financing and team structure.
Find the right opportunity
Catalyst researchers represent a curated portfolio of opportunities tailored to address the most pressing energy and security needs of our nation, including AI, quantum technologies, critical materials and geothermal energy.
ORNL researchers disclosed over 300 inventions in 2024, and 30% were fully prototyped at disclosure.
Connect lab-developed intellectual property to market opportunities
Catalyst benefits entrepreneurs by:
• Enabling collaboration with world-leading scientists and technology experts to expediently identify profitable opportunities.
• Building familiarity with ORNL’s capabilities, valuable Department of Energy and small business programs, and a supportive regional innovation ecosystem.
• Making connections with a broad network of technical and commercial subject matter experts within the regional innovation ecosystem.
The Catalyst Coaching program prepares ORNL researchers to succeed in commercialization initiatives by helping them communicate technologies clearly to private sector partners and by building their confidence to effectively convey the value proposition of their innovation to business leaders.
Jennifer Caldwell, Director of Technology Transfer
Real-world impact
ORNL delivers scientific discoveries and technical breakthroughs needed to realize solutions in energy and national security and provide economic benefit to the nation. ORNL addresses national needs through impactful research and world-leading research centers. A wide range of partnerships with other US Department of Energy (DOE) laboratories and programs, universities, and industry pairs ORNL’s strengths with others for outstanding contributions to science.
For more information about the program and to apply, contact Susan Ochs, ORNL engagements program manager, at ochssm@ornl.gov.
